Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 Tutorial

Getting Started

By Becky Earll

Opening Screenshot of Microsoft PowerPoint 2003

To begin, look to the right side panel and locate “New Presentation.”

Click on “Blank presentation” below to start a new presentation from scratch.

The “Slide Layout” box appears. This contains the different layouts and templates that PowerPoint has made available to you.

Click on the top, upper-left layout.

The following boxes appear in your PowerPoint presentation. These are text boxes. Simply click on a box and a cursor will appear allowing you to type.

Click on the “Click to add title” box and type in your own title.

Before we go any further, you should save your work. You should get into the habit of continuously saving all changes to your work as you create your presentation.

Go to “File” and click on “Save.” The “Save As” box appears. Name your

presentation and click “Save.”

Now let’s go back to the presentation. This time we will add a background to our slide. Go to “Format” and click on “Background…” The “Background” box appears.

You can choose from many colors. Notice the “More Colors” option below the down arrow. By clicking on “Fill Effects,” you can apply shading and gradients or insert a saved picture from a file as your background. Click on “Apply” to select a background.

Next we will insert a picture from PowerPoint’s clipart collection. Go to “Insert”—”Picture”—”Clip Art…” The “Select Picture” box appears. Choose a picture by clicking on the item you want and then clicking “OK” below.

Select a picture and click “OK.” Now would be a good time to save your work

again. Hint: “File”—”Save”

Notice the “From File..” option. This allows you to add one of your saved picture located on your computer.

A presentation needs more than one slide, so let’s add one now!

Go up to your main menu, and click on “Insert” The first option you see is “New Slide.” Click on “New Slide.”

Once again, the right bar displays the “Slide Layout” options. Choose any layout you wish. Don’t worry about choosing the wrong layout either. You may add or delete text or picture boxes at any time. Also notice that there is a blank layout option as well. By going to “Insert” on the main menu, you may add text boxes, charts, tables, graphics to any layout.

Notice that your 2 slides are shown as icons on the left side of your screen. You may “click and drag” on these to change their order at any time. This can be done in “Slide Sorter” found under “View” as well.

Click on “Slide Show” and then “View Show.” Your presentation will fill the entire screen. Use your mouse or the space bar to go to the next slide. You will learn about transitions at a later time. This is good for now. After viewing your slide show, hit the “escape” key on your keyboard. You can continue working. Look around as well.

Finally, remember to save, save, save!!

Now that you have added features to your 2 slides, it’s time to view them in a slide show!

Congratulations you have made a PowerPoint Presentation!!